Hello dear friends. I trust all of you are resting in the Lord's great love for you. This week we are going to take a look at a wonderful conversation within the soul of the Psalmist. May his words be an encouragement to any of us who are in despair.
Grace and peace,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #37
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. Psalm 42:11
Core Value: Prayer
Soul talk is good for the soul. What is “soul talk?” It is those conversations I have in my head and heart that no one hears but me and God. It is a moment of complete frankness and transparent candor on how I feel about what is going on in my life with the only One who “gets it” and can do something about it. A healthy conversation within the soul always includes two components: the problem and the best solution to my problem. In this case, the Psalmist states the problem is one of despair, of depression. Fortunately, he had a problem that had a solution and directed it towards the One who is our glory and the One who lifts our head (Ps. 3:3).
Principle #37 & Personal Application: The quality disciple practices the kind of faith that is centered upon hope in God.
• The prayers of the quality disciple are offered in faith, even when one’s circumstances are difficult: We pray in faith even when we our soul is in despair and we are deeply disturbed.
• The prayers of the quality disciple are centered upon hope in God. Our hope is not in our “faith” nor is our hope in our ability to improve our circumstances. Our hope must be in God.
• The prayers of the quality disciple that are offered in faith impact one’s attitude. Even when we are down, the Lord will gladden our heart.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
When I become down and discouraged, how does my hope in God’s ability to help me usually play itself out?
How focused are my prayers when hard times come my way?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, when I become down and in despair and it seems that there will be no end to my discouragement, please remind me of Your promise to me: You will grace my heart with hope in You. You will grant me the faith to trust You and worship You for the times when I will praise You—during the storms and after them too. May I experience a gladdened heart (a heart that has been lifted up and refreshed) so that my life may be seen by others as another testimony of Your great faithfulness to me.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #36--Worship--September 17, 2011
Hello my dear friends! The Psalmist, once again, directs our conversation towards the core value of "Worship." Worship is not about us, but about Jesus. In today's Psalm we are going to be reminded that worship is more than just singing a few praise songs on Sunday morning. To contrast, worship is a sacrifice of praise--all day long.
May our worship of Jesus be like a sweet aroma to Him.
Learning with you,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #36
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:8
Core Value: Worship
Why do we worship? Is our worship founded upon obligation or gratitude? Do we offer worship to God out of a sense of obligation where we feel we owe God so much that the “least” we can do is give Him our worship? Or is our worship to God offered from a heart that has fallen in love with its Maker? In our culture it seems that even worship of God can become another consumable product that is used and then thrown aside for the next, best thing. The Bible has plenty to say about worship and how it is used to please God. For one, worship, biblical worship, is not limited to a specific location, day or time.
Worship Is Not About Where You Worship; It Is About Who You Worship.
Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." | Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. | You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. | Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. | God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:20-24 (NIV)
There are some people who believe that the only place where God can be worshiped appropriately is in a church building on a Sunday morning at a certain time. Thankfully, God has refused to allow Himself to be placed in a box. The wonder of worship is that God can be worshiped anyplace, at anytime.
Principle #36 & Personal Application: The quality disciple experiences the presence of the Lord both day and night, resulting in a life of on-going praise and worship.
• We worship the Lord for His unfailing and unending lovingkindness (mercy).
• We worship the Lord for His song: a song of deliverance, a song of comfort, a song of praise sung to His glory.
• We worship the Lord for His Lordship of our lives: He is the God of my life.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
What are the circumstances of my life that often hinder my worship of the Lord?
What would my life as a Christian begin to look like if my worship of the Lord would be greater than my worries?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, by faith in You, I thank You that You do command Your lovingkindness in the daytime. By faith, You do bless me with Your song in the night. May I always worship and praise You: for You, O Lord, are the God of my life.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
Looking to go deeper in your devotional experience?
A fresh resource for your spiritual growth is Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace. Now in a downloadable ebook! http://t.co/vtTWQZy5
May our worship of Jesus be like a sweet aroma to Him.
Learning with you,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #36
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:8
Core Value: Worship
Why do we worship? Is our worship founded upon obligation or gratitude? Do we offer worship to God out of a sense of obligation where we feel we owe God so much that the “least” we can do is give Him our worship? Or is our worship to God offered from a heart that has fallen in love with its Maker? In our culture it seems that even worship of God can become another consumable product that is used and then thrown aside for the next, best thing. The Bible has plenty to say about worship and how it is used to please God. For one, worship, biblical worship, is not limited to a specific location, day or time.
Worship Is Not About Where You Worship; It Is About Who You Worship.
Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." | Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. | You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. | Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. | God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:20-24 (NIV)
There are some people who believe that the only place where God can be worshiped appropriately is in a church building on a Sunday morning at a certain time. Thankfully, God has refused to allow Himself to be placed in a box. The wonder of worship is that God can be worshiped anyplace, at anytime.
Principle #36 & Personal Application: The quality disciple experiences the presence of the Lord both day and night, resulting in a life of on-going praise and worship.
• We worship the Lord for His unfailing and unending lovingkindness (mercy).
• We worship the Lord for His song: a song of deliverance, a song of comfort, a song of praise sung to His glory.
• We worship the Lord for His Lordship of our lives: He is the God of my life.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
What are the circumstances of my life that often hinder my worship of the Lord?
What would my life as a Christian begin to look like if my worship of the Lord would be greater than my worries?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, by faith in You, I thank You that You do command Your lovingkindness in the daytime. By faith, You do bless me with Your song in the night. May I always worship and praise You: for You, O Lord, are the God of my life.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
Looking to go deeper in your devotional experience?
A fresh resource for your spiritual growth is Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace. Now in a downloadable ebook! http://t.co/vtTWQZy5
Friday, September 16, 2011
Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace is now available in eBook!
Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace
Now Available In eBook (pdf)!
Looking for a fresh way to give your bible study and small group a boost this fall?
Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace—eBook. Same 100 page count as the print version, same great practical content for only $7.99 per download (a 50% savings off of the regular price!)
· A full-length devotional with 13 lessons (along with a five day spiritual journal workbook)
· A 21 point biblical assessment on the grace of God
Click on this link for a free sample http://files.me.com/dennybates/gwn8bo
Ready to Order Now? Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace In A Downloadable eBook
Click on this link to purchase your eBook copy and begin your study today
http://www.dennybates.com/Home/PODGIG.html
Check This Out! It is our goal at Something New Christian Publishers to place God’s Word into the hands of as many people as possible. My personal goal of providing Psalms of Discipleship to you, beyond your own personal encouragement, is to enlist your help in getting the Word out and getting more people involved in transformational life change.
It will cost your friends nothing to use the material because after your initial download, I am granting you permission to photocopy up to 10 copies of this eBook for use in a small group / discipleship setting. The terms are simple: Please do not sell the material for profit and please give proper credit to the copy write owner. Other than that, go for it and become a DiscipleMaker4Jesus!
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
Something New Christian Publishers:
A Quality Disciple . . . A Quality Life
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #35--Worship--September 10, 2011
Hello my dear friends! Today's Psalms of Discipleship will be an encouragement to all of us, no matter our where we are (or have been) in our journey with the Shepherd of the Psalms. We all have experienced great times as well as having gone through the dark waters of discouragement and personal failure. Thankfully, the Lord is present in each and every circumstance.
Learning as I go,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #35
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence. Psalm 42:5
Core Value: Worship
In his classic novel, A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens targeted the tension between good and evil when he wrote these famous words:
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.”
Those same words could be written today as we seek to navigate dangerous waters. In our case, the tension is between trusting in the Lord or allowing fear of our circumstances take control of us. All that surrounded him disturbed the psalmist. Words like “despair” and “disturbed” had become a part of his vocabulary. Many people, even believers, fail to move on from these kinds of words. They surrender and settle for spiritual defeat. This was not the case with the psalmist. Instead, after showing his transparency and confessing his inner struggle, he made a choice to move on to a far healthier perspective. His circumstances, for the moment, had not changed but his vocabulary did. He goes from “despair” to “hope in God,” from “disturbed” to “I shall again praise Him.” He rests in the fact that the presence of the Lord will help him.
May we all be honest to God on how we really feel. But may we also, through grace, have the faith to hope in Him and praise Him, even in the most challenging of circumstances. For even in the worst of times we can experience the best of times if we are trusting Jesus to take care of us.
Principle #35 & Personal Application: The quality disciple has chosen to worship God even in the midst of challenging circumstances.
• Even when our soul is in despair and has become disturbed, worship of the Lord must be our first response.
• Our hope is not in our wisdom, nor in our human strength, and certainly it is not in the citadels of political power. Our hope must be in God.
• It requires faith, not faith in one’s self, but faith in God to praise and worship Him.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
How can I begin to make the transition in my spiritual journey where praise and worship of God becomes my default setting (in other words, “my habit”) as I respond to Him when I face difficult circumstances?
Everyone goes through difficult times. Have I ever had an experience where I sensed the presence of the Lord as I began to praise and worship Him?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, there have been times in my life where my soul has been in despair and very disturbed. And yet, You have offered me grace. It is by Your grace that I can hope in my God. It is by faith where I can praise and worship You. May my life be marked as a disciple who has the habit of worshiping You.
PS. Thanks to all of you have given your input on a new project I am working on called Psalms of Discipleship: A One Year Journey With The Shepherd. I'm going to close out the survey on September 17. If you have not taken the opportunity to respond, please do so this week. It is ten questions in less than five minutes. This link will take you to the survey. Thanks again!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6HBT759
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
Learning as I go,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #35
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence. Psalm 42:5
Core Value: Worship
In his classic novel, A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens targeted the tension between good and evil when he wrote these famous words:
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.”
Those same words could be written today as we seek to navigate dangerous waters. In our case, the tension is between trusting in the Lord or allowing fear of our circumstances take control of us. All that surrounded him disturbed the psalmist. Words like “despair” and “disturbed” had become a part of his vocabulary. Many people, even believers, fail to move on from these kinds of words. They surrender and settle for spiritual defeat. This was not the case with the psalmist. Instead, after showing his transparency and confessing his inner struggle, he made a choice to move on to a far healthier perspective. His circumstances, for the moment, had not changed but his vocabulary did. He goes from “despair” to “hope in God,” from “disturbed” to “I shall again praise Him.” He rests in the fact that the presence of the Lord will help him.
May we all be honest to God on how we really feel. But may we also, through grace, have the faith to hope in Him and praise Him, even in the most challenging of circumstances. For even in the worst of times we can experience the best of times if we are trusting Jesus to take care of us.
Principle #35 & Personal Application: The quality disciple has chosen to worship God even in the midst of challenging circumstances.
• Even when our soul is in despair and has become disturbed, worship of the Lord must be our first response.
• Our hope is not in our wisdom, nor in our human strength, and certainly it is not in the citadels of political power. Our hope must be in God.
• It requires faith, not faith in one’s self, but faith in God to praise and worship Him.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
How can I begin to make the transition in my spiritual journey where praise and worship of God becomes my default setting (in other words, “my habit”) as I respond to Him when I face difficult circumstances?
Everyone goes through difficult times. Have I ever had an experience where I sensed the presence of the Lord as I began to praise and worship Him?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, there have been times in my life where my soul has been in despair and very disturbed. And yet, You have offered me grace. It is by Your grace that I can hope in my God. It is by faith where I can praise and worship You. May my life be marked as a disciple who has the habit of worshiping You.
PS. Thanks to all of you have given your input on a new project I am working on called Psalms of Discipleship: A One Year Journey With The Shepherd. I'm going to close out the survey on September 17. If you have not taken the opportunity to respond, please do so this week. It is ten questions in less than five minutes. This link will take you to the survey. Thanks again!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6HBT759
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
Friday, September 2, 2011
Psalms of Discipleship (Worship) Principle #34, September 2, 2011
Hello dear friends! I am writing to you a day early. In a few moments, I'm on the way to the first session of the National House2House Church Conference in Jacksonville Florida. I am here to learn and observe how Christ is being worshiped in a "simple" way through house churches and other non-traditional places. I'm sure this weekend I will meet many "thirsty" believers who want to know the Lord better. I could say the same thing for you too. May our thirst for Him lead us to Him where He will quench our parched souls.
Getting thirsty for Him,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #34
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 42:1-2
Core Value: Worship
Thirst is a common experience. Everyday, all around the world, people are thirsty. But thirsty for what? Many are thirsty for the recognition and applause from men. Many are thirsty for more and more possessions. Many are thirsty for things that can never quench thirst. They drink from the salt water of life, becoming even more frustrated that the attempt to quench the thirst leads to an even greater thirst that will never be satisfied. Those who are thirsty for the things of this world will never be quenched.
On the other hand, there are those who have a thirst for the Lord.
The disciple of Jesus thirsts for righteousness, to have a right standing with God.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matthew 5:6 (NASB95)
The disciple of Jesus chooses to go to the waters of the Lord to drink.
"Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. Isaiah 55:1 (NASB95)
The disciple of Jesus drinks of the water Jesus offers, and will not only have his or her thirst quenched, but will possess living waters that yield eternal life.
but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." John 4:14 (NASB95)
Principle #34 & Personal Application: The quality disciple has a passionate yearning to experience the Lord.
• A quality disciple is parched without Jesus. Only He can satisfy the thirsty soul.
• A quality disciple thirsts for “God, for the living God”. Only He can gratify what we need: We need all of Him.
• A quality disciple longs to be in God’s presence. Only He is worthy to be worshipped and praised.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
Has it become my habit to take my relationship with the Lord for granted and not be “thirsty” for Him?
What does it mean for me to come and appear before the living God?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may You keep me thirsty for the right things. Help me thirst for You and for Your righteousness. May the parchment of my soul cause me to find my satisfaction in only You. May my heart long for the sweet time I experience when I stand in Your presence.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates and Something New Christian Publishers © 2011, All Rights Reserved
One added favor please. Will you take less than five minutes and answer ten questions for me by clicking on the link below. Thanks!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6HBT759
http://www.dennybates.com/
www.dennybates.com
Getting thirsty for Him,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #34
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 42:1-2
Core Value: Worship
Thirst is a common experience. Everyday, all around the world, people are thirsty. But thirsty for what? Many are thirsty for the recognition and applause from men. Many are thirsty for more and more possessions. Many are thirsty for things that can never quench thirst. They drink from the salt water of life, becoming even more frustrated that the attempt to quench the thirst leads to an even greater thirst that will never be satisfied. Those who are thirsty for the things of this world will never be quenched.
On the other hand, there are those who have a thirst for the Lord.
The disciple of Jesus thirsts for righteousness, to have a right standing with God.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matthew 5:6 (NASB95)
The disciple of Jesus chooses to go to the waters of the Lord to drink.
"Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. Isaiah 55:1 (NASB95)
The disciple of Jesus drinks of the water Jesus offers, and will not only have his or her thirst quenched, but will possess living waters that yield eternal life.
but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." John 4:14 (NASB95)
Principle #34 & Personal Application: The quality disciple has a passionate yearning to experience the Lord.
• A quality disciple is parched without Jesus. Only He can satisfy the thirsty soul.
• A quality disciple thirsts for “God, for the living God”. Only He can gratify what we need: We need all of Him.
• A quality disciple longs to be in God’s presence. Only He is worthy to be worshipped and praised.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
Has it become my habit to take my relationship with the Lord for granted and not be “thirsty” for Him?
What does it mean for me to come and appear before the living God?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may You keep me thirsty for the right things. Help me thirst for You and for Your righteousness. May the parchment of my soul cause me to find my satisfaction in only You. May my heart long for the sweet time I experience when I stand in Your presence.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates and Something New Christian Publishers © 2011, All Rights Reserved
One added favor please. Will you take less than five minutes and answer ten questions for me by clicking on the link below. Thanks!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6HBT759
http://www.dennybates.com/
www.dennybates.com
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